Why Are There So Many Churches? Text: II Tim. 4:3-4 Scripture Reading: I Cor. 1:10-13

Why Are There So Many Churches? Intro There are many misconceptions about the church which Jesus built The misconceptions are from confusion over the religious world’s many churches all claiming to have been the one Jesus built!

Intro Why Are There So Many Churches?

Intro The question people should be asking is, “Is it the church Jesus built?” If one church is as good another, then Christ’s blood was spilled in vain, for He said He would build His church (singular, not plural) – Mt. 16:18; Acts 20:28 If Christ built only one church, then why are there so many churches? If Christ built only one church, then why are there so many churches?

Why Are There So Many Churches? There Is Only One Church Jesus Died to Save Mt. 16: "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Mt. 16: "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. The word "church" is used in two senses in the N.T.  Universal sense: This refers to the saved of all the earth, and is the church in the whole (Mt. 16:18; Acts 2:47) – “catholic” means “universal”  Local Sense: This refers to the saved gathered together according to geographical terms of limitation (I Cor. 1:2; Phil. 1:1) – Local churches The church of Christ originated on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ from the dead (Acts 2)  Dan. 2:44: “In the days of those kings…” (The Romans)  Mt. 16:18: Jesus said He would build His church (singular, not plural).  Mk. 9:1: Jesus said the kingdom (church) would be established in the lifetime of many in His audience. (Alive on Day of Pentecost, Acts 2)  Acts 2:47: The “Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (NKJ) – Eph. 5:23

Why Are There So Many Churches? There Is Only One Church Jesus Died to Save Eph. 4: There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6. one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Eph. 4: There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6. one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. One Church:  Eph. 1:22-23: The church is the body of Christ and He is its Head (singular).  Eph. 4:4-6: One body, not many! (Eph. 5:23: “Savior of the body”)  Jn. 17:20-21: Jesus prayed for unity. (I Cor. 14:33: Not a God of confusion)  Eph. 2:20; II Tim. 3:16-17: Unity is attained when the church stands on the authority of the word of God alone (teachings of the apostles & Jesus). The church that belongs to Christ was established on the Day of Pentecost! The church that belongs to Christ was established on the Day of Pentecost!

Why Are There So Many Churches? Apostasy was warned – From unity would come factions  I Cor. 1:10-13: Denomination mind-set condemned! I Cor. 1: Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. 12. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." 13. Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I Cor. 1: Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. 12. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." 13. Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? Divisions not from God!

Why Are There So Many Churches? Apostasy was warned – From unity would come factions  I Tim. 4:1-3; II Tim. 4:3-4: Men would leave the church (unity) to hear and teach things that they desired to hear! (Selfishness would lead to factions) I Tim. 4: But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2. by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3. men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. I Tim. 4: But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2. by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3. men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. II Tim. 4: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4. and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. II Tim. 4: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4. and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Why Are There So Many Churches? A denomination defined  A denomination is part of a whole (IE: A quarter is part of a dollar)  A religious organization smaller than the whole church, but larger than the local church.  A denomination is therefore too small to be the church in the whole sense, and too large to be the church in the local sense! From Catholic to Muslim, from denominations to other cults, they all had their beginnings hundreds of years too late to be Christ’s church! From Catholic to Muslim, from denominations to other cults, they all had their beginnings hundreds of years too late to be Christ’s church!

Why Are There So Many Churches?

Other Religions, not considered as “denominations”  Muslims: Muhammad founds Islam in 610 A.D.  Mormons: Joseph Smith in 1830 wrote the Book of Mormon  Jehovah’s Witnesses: Charles Taze Russell in 1870  Christian Science: Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1875  Pentecostal: Starting in 1901 by the teachings of Charles Parham  Foursquare Church: Founded in 1927 by Aimee Semple McPherson  Scientology: Founded in 1953 by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard  Calvary Chapel churches: Founded by Chuck Smith in 1965

Why Are There So Many Churches? These all have a place in secular history that records their founders and dates, and all are too late to be the “one body” (church) that Jesus died to save! These all have a place in secular history that records their founders and dates, and all are too late to be the “one body” (church) that Jesus died to save!

Conclusion Why Are There So Many Churches?  II Tim. 4:3-4: Men devised doctrines in accordance with their likings and began teaching as doctrine their traditions! (Mt. 15:8-9)  What they all have in common is they are human in origin! (Man- made) II Cor. 11:3 (Too many people allow themselves to be deceived!) 3. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. II Cor. 11:3 (Too many people allow themselves to be deceived!) 3. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

Conclusion Why Are There So Many Churches? The church which Jesus built is not just another denomination but is the whole of what Christ purchased with His blood, and what defines the “saved” (Acts 2:47; 20:28; Eph. 5:23)  No earthly head  No legal hierarchy  Not started by man  Has no man-made creeds or practices Christ is the Head Elders, deacons, preachers, teachers, members Established by Christ Simply follows the N.T. pattern

Conclusion Why Are There So Many Churches? The Lord's church is non-denominational in every respect, and therefore has nothing in common with any man-made denomination! II Cor. 11:4 4. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. II Cor. 11:4 4. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. The church of Christ is too old to be a denomination, and the oldest denomination is too young to be the church of Christ! The church of Christ is too old to be a denomination, and the oldest denomination is too young to be the church of Christ!

Conclusion Why Are There So Many Churches? It is important to know the differences between the church of Christ and denominations! The church is the whole, therefore one must be a part of it to be numbered among the saved! The church is the whole, therefore one must be a part of it to be numbered among the saved! I Cor. 12:12

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?” Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)